Five teams from the state are in the women's NCAA tournament, extending a rich tradition of quality that has been helped greatly by both of the aforementioned programs.

"I think it shows that we're pretty strong in the state of Virginia in women's basketball," Ryan said. "I'm real pleased and proud of all the teams that made it from the state. The fact that we all play each other is outstanding too.

"We've done a good job promoting the sport here in the state, and some of the teams are being rewarded for stepping outside their conference and playing tough opponents."

Two of those state teams are going all the way to Minneapolis to play their first-round game. Virginia (20-10), seeded sixth in the Tempe Region, plays 11th-seeded Old Dominion (22-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Virginia returns to the NCAA tournament after not making it last year, which broke a 20-year streak. The Cavaliers have participated in 21 tournaments, third all-time behind Tennessee and Louisiana Tech, which have been in all 24.

This season, as she rebounded from a down year, Ryan became the 11th women's coach to win more than 600 games.

Virginia defeated ODU 72-64 on Dec. 10 in Charlottesville. In the postseason the Cavaliers, with swing player LaTonya Blue out with an ankle injury, advanced to the ACC tournament semifinals, losing to eventual champion North Carolina 78-72.

Blue was back in practice this week, and Ryan said she'll be evaluated for her availability this weekend.

This edition of Virginia's team has relied on its seniors. Blue, forward and leading scorer Brandi Teamer, and forwards Jocelyn Logan-Friend and Kate Kreager are the core group.

"It's been their team the entire season, and I know that ODU has a couple seniors as well," Ryan said. "So it's obviously going to be a game of seniors. We have a lot of respect for ODU and players like Shareese Grant. She played really well up here and is just a tremendous talent in this region.

"It's going to be a very good game with experienced players. It's always a good game with Old Dominion, a dogfight. It's tough to meet them this time of year."

Seven ACC teams made the field of 64, compared with only ODU from the CAA. But Ryan said that's all relative when comparing how the two will match up.

"Having played North Carolina in our last game will help us with the athletes that Old Dominion will bring forward," Ryan said. "Having played that style is beneficial because both teams put a lot of pressure on you. They've gotten to be a really good team.

"I watched the CAA championship game (ODU's 78-74 overtime victory against Delaware), and they just gutted it out, never quit, and players are just stepping up for them."

Ryan's feeling is that Grant will be matched against Blue or Tiffany Sardin. Either way, it's a big point of emphasis for Virginia.

And there are others. Virginia will counter ODU's post game with Logan-Friend, Kreager and sophomore Siedah Williams.

"The post matchup for us is going to be key with (Tiffany) Green inside," Ryan said. "She hurt us up here toward the end of our game. (Sherida) Triggs also played well against us up here.

"We have a full stable of post players, but they are very strong inside as well." *